Plum tree named &#39;Suplumthirtysix&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of plum tree,  Prunus salicina  ‘Suplumthirtysix’ that is characterized by heavy and consistent production of late season large (70mm) elongated fruit, often having a prominent tip. The flesh is amber-colored with a crisp, very juicy texture, aromatic flavor, high sugar content (19° brix), and low acidity. The fruit skin is reddish-black with a neutral flavor.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE PLANT CLAIMED

Prunus salicina

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘Suplumthirtysix’

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the discovery and asexual propagation of a new and distinct variety of plum, Prunus salicina ‘Suplumthirtysix.’ The variety was originated by hybridization, being first hybridized and selected by David Cain. The new variety was first evaluated by David Cain and Terry Bacon near Wasco, Kern County, Calif. The new variety is characterized by heavy and consistent production of large (approximately 70 mm), reddish-black skinned, late season (late August) fruit. The fruit is elongated, often having a prominent tip. The fruit flesh is amber-colored with a crisp, very juicy texture, aromatic flavor, high sugar content (approximately 19° brix), and low acidity.

The seed parent of the new variety ‘Suplumthirtysix’ is breeding selection ‘90P-072’ (unpatented) which was selected from a progeny of ‘Queen Ann’ (unpatented) crossed with pollen of ‘Simka’ (unpatented). The pollen parent the new variety ‘Suplumthirtysix’ is breeding selection ‘90P-070’ (unpatented) which was selected from a progeny of ‘Angeleno’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. PP2,747) crossed with pollen of ‘Simka.’ The parent varieties were first crossed in March 1996, with the date of planting being February 1997, and the first flowering being in March 1999. The new plum variety was first asexually propagated by Terry Bacon near Wasco, Kern County, California in 2001, by budding onto ‘Flordaguard’ (unpatented) rootstock.

The new variety ‘Suplumthirtysix’ is similar to its seed parent ‘90P-072’ in most charactistics. However, the new variety ‘Suplumthirtysix’ can be distinguished from its seed parent in that it ripens approximately two months earlier and is larger than the seed parent (approximately 70 mm compared to approximately 58 mm for ‘90-072’).

The new variety ‘Suplumthirtysix’ can be distinguished from its pollen parent, ‘90P-070’ in that the new variety ripens approximately three weeks earlier and has elongated fruit compared to round fruit of ‘90-070.’

The new variety ‘Suplumthirtysix’ most closely resembles the commercial plum variety ‘Flavor Heart’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. PP10,608), but may be distinguished from ‘Flavor Heart’ in that the new variety begins harvest approximately 10 days later and has skin color that is reddish-black compared to the black fruit skin of ‘Flavor Heart.’ The new variety ‘Suplumthirtysix’ ripens at about the same time as the comparable variety ‘Angeleno’ but has a larger fruit size (approximately 70 mm compared to approximately 58 mm for ‘Angeleno.’

The new variety ‘Suplumthirtysix’ has been shown to maintain its distinguishing characteristics through successive asexual propagations by, for example, budding onto ‘Flordaguard’ rootstock.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying color photographic illustration shows typical specimens of the foliage and fruit of the present new plum variety. The illustration shows the upper and lower surface of the leaves, an exterior and sectional view of a fruit divided across its suture plane to show flesh color, pit cavity and the stone remaining in place. The photographic illustration was taken shortly after being picked (shipping ripe) and the colors are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in a color representation of this type.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Throughout this specification, color names beginning with a small letter signify that the name of that color, as used in common speech is aptly descriptive. Color names beginning with a capital letter designate values based upon The R.H.S. Colour Chart published by the Royal Horticultural Society, London, England.

The descriptive matter which follows pertains to 5 year old ‘Suplumthirtysix’ plants grown in the vicinity of Wasco, Kern County, Calif., during 2002, and is believed to apply to plants of the variety grown under similar conditions of soil and climate elsewhere.

Tree

-   General: (Measurements taken on five year old tree unless otherwise     noted.)     -   -   Size.—Medium. Normal for most plum varieties. The tree             reaches a height of approximately 3 meters including normal             pruning.         -   Vigor.—Vigorous; growth of approximately 1.8 to 2 meters             height the first growing season.         -   Growth.—Upright-spreading.         -   Productivity.—Productive. Fruit set is usually two or more             times desired amount for marketable size fruit. Thinning and             spacing of fruit is necessary.         -   Form.—Vase formed.         -   Bearer.—Regular. No alternate bearing observed.         -   Fertility.—Unknown, should be planted with another plum             variety to ensure consistent production.         -   Canopy density.—Dense. Pruning is required to open tree vase             shape, allowing more sunlight to center of tree.         -   Hardiness.—Hardy in all fruit growing areas of California.             Winter chilling requirement is approximately 750 hours at or             below 7.2° C.         -   Disease resistance/susceptibility.—No specific testing for             relative plant disease resistance/susceptibility has been             designed. Under close observation in area described in             Wasco, Kern County, Calif., no particular plant/fruit             disease resistance/susceptibility has been observed. -   Trunk: (Measurements at 30 cm above soil line.)     -   -   Diameter.—Approximately 15 cm. Varies with soil type,             fertility, climatic conditions and cultural practices.         -   Surface texture.—Smooth to slightly shaggy, increases with             age of tree.         -   Color.—About Greyed-white 156A in exposed areas to             Greyed-orange 164B in recesses. Becomes darker with age. -   Branches: (Measurements at 90 cm above soil line.)     -   -   Diameter.—Ranges from approximately 4 to 6 cm.         -   Surface texture.—Smooth on first year wood, increasing             roughness with tree age.         -   Color.—Branches vary from about Greyed-green 197D to about             Greyed-green 197B on exposed areas to about Greyed-orange             164C in recesses.         -   Lenticels.—Absent. -   Flowering shoots: (Data taken in July at midpoint of current-season     growth.)     -   -   Diameter.—Approximately 4 mm.         -   Color.—Topside. About Greyed-orange 165B. — Underside: About             Greyed-orange 165B with green background.         -   Lenticels.—Plentiful, very small. — Size: About 1 mm. —             Color: About Greyed-orange 164C.         -   Leaf buds.—— Shape: Broad obovate. — Length: Approximately             2 mm. — Width: Approximately 2 mm. — Color: About             Greyed-orange 177A.         -   Flower buds.—— Shape: Broad obovate. — Length: Approximately             2 mm. — Width: Approximately 1.3 mm. — Color: About             Greyed-orange 177A. — Number per node: Approximately 4.

Foliage

-   Leaves: (Data taken in July on fully expanded leaf at midpoint of     current-season growth.)     -   -   Size.—Average length: Approximately 90 mm. — Average width.             Approximately 36 mm.         -   Thickness.—Medium.         -   Color.—Upper surface: About Green 136B. — Lower surface:             About Green 138B.         -   Form.—Elliptic.         -   Tip.—Cuspidate.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Margin.—Weakly crenate.         -   Venation.—Pinately net veined.         -   Vein color.—About Yellow-green 147D.         -   Surface texture.—Smooth.         -   Petiole.—Average length: Approximately 16 mm. —+0AVERAGE             diameter: Approximately 2 mm. —+0COLOR: About Yellow-green             147C with occasional highlights of about Greyed-red 179A on             top surface.         -   Stipules.—Absent.         -   Glands.—Form: Globose where expressed, mostly eglandular on             younger leaves. — Number: Varies from approximately 2 to 4.             — Position: Opposite on upper portion of petiole. — Average             size: Approximately 0.8 mm by 0.8 mm. — Color: About             Greyed-red 179A.

Flowers

-   General: (Fully opened.)     -   -   Duration of bloom.—Under temperature conditions near Wasco,             Kern County, Calif., duration of flower bloom is about 12             days.         -   Blooming period.—First bloom: Mar. 9, 2002. — Full bloom:             Mar. 15, 2002.         -   Average diameter.—Approximately 24 mm.         -   Aroma.—Very slight. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Length.—Approximately 8 mm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 1 mm.         -   Color.—About Green 142A. -   Petals:     -   -   Number.—5.         -   Arrangement.—Slightly overlapping.         -   Length.—Approximately 10 mm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 8 mm.         -   Shape.—Obovate.         -   Apex shape.—Round.         -   Base shape.—Narrows at point of attachment.         -   Color.—About White 155.         -   Surface texture.—Smooth.         -   Margins.—Smooth. -   Sepals:     -   -   Number.—5.         -   Length.—Approximately 4 mm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 2.3 mm.         -   Shape.—Obovate.         -   Color.—About Green 142B.         -   Surface texture.—Smooth. -   Stamens:     -   -   Number.—Approximately 23 to 27, averaging approximately 25.         -   Average length.—Approximately 6 mm.         -   Filament color.—About White 155.         -   Anther color (just prior to dehiscence).—About Greyed-yellow             160B.         -   Pollen color.—About Greyed-yellow 160B. -   Pistil:     -   -   Number.—Usually one, occasionally two.         -   Average length.—Approximately 8 mm.         -   Ovary diameter.—Approximately 1 mm.         -   Pubescence.—None.         -   Stigma extension.—Stigma extends level with anthers.

Fruit

-   General: (Data taken at firm-ripe stage on mature tree managed to     obtain maximum quality under conditions stated above.)     -   -   Harvest.—Date of first pick: Aug. 14, 2002. — Date of last             pick: Aug. 25, 2002. -   Size: (Under conditions typical of the San Joaquin Valley,     California.)     -   -   Length (stem end to apex).—Approximately 75 mm.         -   Diameter in line with suture plane.—Approximately 70 mm.         -   Diameter perpendicular to suture plane.—Approximately 70 mm.         -   Average weight.—Approximately 195 gm. -   Form:     -   -   Viewed from apex.—Rounded, nearly symmetrical.         -   Viewed from side, facing suture.—Rounded to elongated,             nearly symmetrical, often with a prominent tip.         -   Viewed from side, perpendicular to suture.—Rounded to             elongated, asymmetrical, often with a prominent tip. -   Apex shape: Elongated, often with a prominent tip. -   Stem-end cavity depth: Shallow. -   Stem:     -   -   Length.—Approximately 8 mm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 2 mm.         -   Color.—About Green 143C. -   Skin:     -   -   Thickness.—Medium.         -   Adherence to flesh.—Tenacious.         -   Surface texture.—Smooth.         -   Pubescence.—Npne.         -   Bloom.—Moderate amount.         -   Ground color.—About Greyed-orange 163C.         -   Overcolor.—About Greyed-red 180A to about Greyed-purple             183A, not uniform.         -   Taste.—Mildly tart. -   Flesh:     -   -   Ripens.—Evenly.         -   Texture.—Fine, firm, very juicy, crisp.         -   Fibers.—Few.         -   Flavor.—Sweet, with low acidity.         -   Brix.—Approximately 19 degrees.         -   Juice.—Plentiful.         -   Aroma.—Medium-high.         -   Color.—About Greyed-orange 164D.         -   Pit cavity size.—Approximately 28 mm in length — Diameter in             line with suture plane: Approximately 19 mm — Diameter             perpendicular to suture plane: Approximately 7 mm.         -   Fruit use.—Dessert. Market, local and long distance.         -   Fruit shipping/keeping quality.—Good. Holds well in cold             storage for approximately 5 weeks and maintains good             firmness and eating quality. Minimal bruising and scarring             in packing and shipping trials. -   Stone: (Measurements taken on dried stones.)     -   -   Freeness.—Clingstone.         -   Size.—Length. Approximately 28 mm. — Diameter in line with             suture plane: Approximately 19 mm. — Diameter perpendicular             to suture plane. Approximately 7 mm.         -   Form (viewed from side).—Eliptical oblong, slightly             asymmetrical.         -   Form (viewed from stem end).—Oval, nearly symmetrical.         -   Base shape.—Narrows until stem attachment, then flattened             for approximately 5 mm at stem attachment.         -   Apex shape.—Cuspidate to acuminate, with a sharp point.         -   Surface.—Irregularly furrowed near base. Lightly ridged             toward base. Lightly pitted throughout.         -   Halves.—Nearly equal.         -   Ridges.—Typically 1 on each side of the suture. The ridges             are small and narrow beginning at the base and extending             throughout the length of the stone.         -   Outgrowing keel.—Partially developed.         -   Tendency to split.—None.         -   Color.—About Greyed-orange 165D when dried. 

1. A new and distinct plum tree as herein described and illustrated. 